Face to Face with AG Kohli / Govt committed to improve live hood of people involved in fishery sector: AG Kohli
Govt is identifying various measures to improve the livelihood of people
involved in these sectors. This was informed by Minister for Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries Abdul Ghani Kohli during his interaction with the Young Bites.
Here are the excerpts.
Vijay Gupta
VG: People involved in fishery sector are facing many hardships, why?
AG: This sector is very important and is helping a lot to improve the economy of farmers, especially in rural communities and small farm households. We know that a significant population of the state depends upon livestock for their livelihood. There is need to boost these sectors in Sangrama Constituency, the vast livestock resources available can be efficiently molded to act as catalyst for economic transformation of these areas.
VG: What efforts have been done by the government to improve their lifestyle?
AG: Under Fisheries development initiatives, all possibilities would be explored for establishment for Trout Rearing farm in Dandmoh and for developing Ningli as a hub for fisheries associated activities like a wholesale market as well as an all encompassing processing, drying, packaging set-up.
While, more other efforts include reconstruction of Kalantra Trout farm damaged during 2014 floods.
We have given the directions to Director Fisheries to initiate process for establishment of a few fish farms in the area under "Blue Resolution" Scheme.
VG: Veterinary services for the bovines are a big issue, why?
AG: The government is also paying due attention to provide healthcare support through widespread veterinary services being consistently made available in the state.
Currently the department provides veterinary services through 1750 Animal Husbandry centers, which are being supported by district level diagnostic labs and two upgraded divisional level diagnostic modernized labs at Jammu and Srinagar.
Other measures include provision of medicines and vaccines, during 2016, 17515 lakh vaccinations to Cattle, Poultry, sheep & Goat population were provided by the department.
Further, the milk production of the State has increased from 2136 thousand MTs in 2014-15 to 2405 thousand MTs in 2016-17 thus registering a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.1%.
Artificial inseminations provided to cows and buffalos will help in genetic upgradation of breeds which will lead to increasing State milk production.
For the first time milk processing capacity of the State run cooperatives has touched to 1 lakh liters per day. The state run Cooperative for dairy development is in process of establishing state of art ice-cream plant and Paneer Plant at 2 milk processing plants.
The department is encouraging establishment of Bulk Milk Cooling Centres under cooperative structure, which will enable the dairy farmers to increase the shelf-life of milk thus enhancing the reach of marketable milk.